New Orleans is one of the ultimate party cities in the U.S., and it’s got everything you’d want in a girls’ trip: Instagrammable hotels, creative cocktails, Southern hospitality, and all that jazz. The only problem about NOLA? There’s so much to do, you can’t possibly get to it all. Here’s how to narrow it down.
Check out Cosmo's official bachelorette guide for more mind-blowing tips, tricks, and ideas.
STAY HERE
The hotel is probably the least of your concerns when you’re planning your bach (who wants to stay in?). But if you base yourself at The Old 77, a boutique hotel heavy on the vintage charm, you’ll be right between uptown and downtown, which will make navigating NOLA super easy.
THE OLD 77
535 Tchoupitoulas St. / 866‑226‑4727 / [email protected]
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Rooms start at $300 a night.
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ENJOY A LEISURELY BRUNCH
The Big Easy is all about lingering over weekend brunch, and there’s no better place to do it than at the sort of cheesy, mostly genteel Commander's Palace, across from the gothic Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District. It’s fancy (no shorts or T-shirts), but it’s a classic New Orleans jazz brunch experience, with a menu full of southern dishes, including New Orleans barbecued gulf shrimp and Cajun crawfish frittata. Go hungry!
COMMANDER'S PALACE
1403 Washington Ave. / 504-899-8221
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ZIP AROUND THE CITY
Once you’ve eaten your fill, head over to Arts District Bicycle Rental to grab a super cute (read: Instagrammable) ride for the afternoon—$20 will get you pedaling for up to 24 hours. You’ll cover way more ground on a bike than in an Uber, and it’s a great way to get a fresh perspective on neighborhoods from Magazine Street in the Garden District through the Arts District, downtown, and even the French Quarter. If you’re starting in the French Quarter, try A Bicycle Named Desire (it’s $38.50 for a full-day rental).
While you’re in the Arts District, stop by St. Roch Market, a beautiful warehouse space filled with food vendors (it’s one of the oldest open-air markets in the region and was restored after Hurricane Katrina). Sample NOLA’s best charcuterie, cold-pressed juices, fresh crepes and doughnuts, and Gulf oysters. Save time to pause at the nearby St. Roch Chapel, where people leave prosthetic body parts as offerings to the patron saint of good health and healing.
New Orleans is one of the top 10 most bikeable cities, so finding your way around shouldn’t be a problem, even if you’re not the most confident two-wheeler. You can start by the historic Old U.S. Mint building on Elysian Fields in the French Quarter and bike the city’s esplanade, or for $2 catch a ferry over to the Victorian neighborhood of Algiers for epic views of the city’s skyline. There’s also the Lafitte Greenway, starting in Louis Armstrong Park, which features plenty of signage to help you navigate the city’s most important sights.
ARTS DISTRICT BICYCLE RENTAL
1121 Margaret Pl. / 504-521 6390
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Bikes are $20 for a 24-hour rental.
A BICYCLE NAMED DESIRE
632 Elysian Fields / 504-345-8966 / [email protected]
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Bikes are $38.50 for a full-day rental.
GET YOUR BUZZ GOING
For cocktails with a side of nostalgia, head to Napoleon House, the home of a former New Orleans mayor who offered his home to the exiled French emperor (he never actually stayed there). It’s also said to the birthplace of the Pimm’s Cup, and you can order them by the pitcher. It’s a great afternoon spot; sit outside if you can.
NAPOLEON HOUSE
500 Chartres St. / 504-524-975
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SOAK UP ALL THE BOOZE
Dinner is a crucial part of the New Orleans experience, not just because you’ve already probably been drinking since noon but because the mishmash of food flavors and influences ranges from French to Creole to Cajun to Caribbean cuisine, and it’s downright decadent.
If you’re willing to trek uptown, get a res at Shaya, which serves up modern Israeli food. Split some small plates among your crew so you can sample everything from the challah toast with foie gras to the crispy halloumi and lamb kofte with blistered tomato. Skip dessert at the restaurant, and cruise by Cafe du Monde for beignets. There’s usually a line, but it’s great for people watching—and the deep-fried doughnuts dusted in powdered sugar, as much a staple in New Orleans as Hurricane cocktails and gumbo, are worth the wait.
SHAYA
4213 Magazine St. / 504-891-4213 / [email protected]
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CAFE DU MONDE
800 Decatur St. / 504-525-4544
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GO ON AN EPIC BAR CRAWL
Yes, it’s cliché, but you’re in New Orleans to celebrate, so you have to go out in the French Quarter. The bar choices are endless, and you can have as touristy (think Hand Grenade slushies at Tropical Isle on Bourbon Street) or authentic (jazz listening at Preservation Hall) an experience as you want.
Cruise down Frenchman Street at the far end of the Quarter for a little less of the tourist craziness you’ll find on Bourbon Street. There’s a reliable number of bars with live music and good drinks, like the standing room-only Spotted Cat; local jazz spot Snug Harbor; whiskey-slinging d.b.a.; and Apple Barrel, a tiny underground bar decorated in dollar bills. But you should also stop by Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, the oldest bar in America—it definitely looks it, but it’s worth it for the nostalgia factor alone.
FINISH STRONG
Need fuel while drinking? There’s a tiny kiosk at the back of the also tiny Erin Rose Bar (a divey Irish pub) called Killer Poboys; since you can’t leave NOLA without trying at least one of the region’s famous sandwiches, the Seared Gulf Shrimp and “Dark & Stormy” Pork Belly poboys here will more than suffice. It’s open until midnight.
KILLER POBOYS
811 Conti St.
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